Jazz Forum in Tarrytown Celebrates 1st Anniversary

When long-time Jazz impresario Mark Morganelli and his wife Ellen Prior opened Jazz Forum in Tarrytown in June of 2017 as the only dedicated Jazz Club in Westchester County, some in the industry wondered whether a jazz venue could survive outside of New York City. One year later, Jazz Forum has not only survived, but thrived – adding a dose of “hip,” to the suburbs and filling a niche in a region hungry for live-music and ready to embrace jazz. The intimate and warmly welcoming club kicked-off with sold-out performances by the legendary Roy Hargrove and never looked back, hosting more than 15,000 patrons in its initial year over the course of more than 300 sets, with a weekend-only schedule of Friday, Saturday and Sunday night performances. In addition to Hargrove, highlight performances included Catherine Russell, The Bill Charlap Trio, Paquito D’Rivera, and The John Pizzarelli Trio. Montefiore Health System is the club’s Presenting Sponsor.

The club took a remarkable step forward to celebrate its second year, announcing plans to add a new Steinway B Concert Grand Piano, which will make it the only club in Westchester with this incomparable instrument, when the piano is installed in late June. Jazz Forum is a 90-seat venue offering clear sightlines and warm sound from all locations. The club presents headliner jazz artists with two sets on both Friday and Saturday nights, Brazilian groups on Sunday afternoons and top-notch jazz on Sunday evenings.

Mark Morganelli, Executive Director of Jazz Forum Arts, added, “Ellen and I have been elated by our reception here in Tarrytown and by the passion expressed both by our performers and our guests. We can’t wait to enhance our offerings in year two with an amazing line-up and the extraordinary new Steinway B Concert Grand Piano.”

Morganelli and Prior greet guests at the door each evening, as patrons enjoy amenities including a separate lounge and pool room, featuring a vintage 1915 Brunswick Pool table. The lounge also includes shelves filled with more than 4,000 albums (repeat guests are known to choose a favorite album and put it on the turntable between sets) as well as eclectic decorative touches such as throne chairs from the South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry. Inside, the club features a hand-crafted walnut bar with a selection including cocktails and local draft beers along with an extensive wine list focused on Italian favorites. Guests enjoy an informal dinner menu during sets, with options including antipasti and tapenades, cheeses and charcuterie, as well as salads, pastas and desserts.

The club released it’s summer schedule in celebration of the anniversary, as well as a schedule of free outdoor summer concerts, as Jazz Forum Arts furthers its mission of presenting top quality arts events while enhancing the appreciation of jazz, America’s pre-eminent indigenous musical art form. At Jazz Forum, summer highlights include:

Ann Hampton Callaway, July 13-14

Freddy Cole, July 27-28

T.S. Monk Sextet, Aug. 3-4

Julius Rodriguez Quintet, Aug. 24-25

The Joey DeFrancesco Trio, Sept. 7-8

The Jazz Forum Club is a program of Jazz Forum Arts, a not-for profit arts presenting organization. Jazz Forum is located at 1 Dixon Lane in Tarrytown, New York, just one block west of Route 9. More information, including reservations for upcoming Jazz Forum Shows, complimentary parking locations and details on free summer concerts throughout Westchester, is available at www.jazzforumarts.org or by calling (914) 631-1000. Follow Jazz Forum on Facebook and Instagram @jazzforumarts.

Photo: Roy Hargrove at Jazz Forum, courtesy Doug Schneider Photography